Ice tray and grid therefor



Aprifi 1950 R. M. STORER ICE TRAY AND GRID THEREFOR Filed Jan. 2, 1945 3Sheets-Sheep l INVENTORB M STORE/2.

Q W m M ATTOR/Vf).

AW 1950 R. M. sToRER 2,=%@03,306-

ICE TRAY AND GRID THEREFQR Filed Jan. 2, 1945 3 S116eis-$heet 2nwggwrok. A m/M #20 x14 @TO/QEE. BY

AFTER My 5 R. M. STORER 2,503,306

ICE TRAY AND GRID THEREFOR Filed Jan. 2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 w vlllllmINVEN TOR.

Eva/M P0 4% 570E272, BY

A froR/viv Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT,

ICE TRAY AND GRID THEREFOR Richard M. Storer, Denver, Colo.

Application January 2, 1945, Serial No. 571,063 A 19 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ice trays of the type used in mechanicalrefrigerators and the like to form ice cubes or blocks and for similarpurposes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, durable andefiicient two-part ice tray unit in which the expansive action of mattercongealing therein is utilized to obtain a separation, or at least apartial separation of one said member from congealed matter in the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice tray unit in whichthe expansive action of matter congealing therein i utilized to effect aseparation of the mold or grid member from the congealed matter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a two-part ice tray unitin which the expansive action of matter congealing within the unit isutilized to separate one part from said congealed matter, followed by asimple mechanical movement to separate the other said part from thecongealed matter.

Other objects reside in novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be describedin the course of the following description.

To afford a better understanding of the present invention, referencewill be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating typicalembodiments. In the drawings, in the several views of which like partshave been designated similarly,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of tray unit embodyingfeatures of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical lengthwise section taken along the line 2-2, Fig.1, and illustrating the position of parts at the beginning of thecongealin action;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 showing th position of parts atthe completion of the congealing action;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of tray unit embodyingfeatures of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a vertical lengthwise section through the unit shown in Fig.5, illustrating the position of parts at the beginning of the congealingaction, and showing in dotted lines the position of said parts at thecompletion of the congealing action; I

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary top plan view of another form of tray unitembodying features of the present invention; v

J oFFic Ef j Fig. 8 is an end elevation ofthe' trayuhit shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of still another' forfn of tray unit embodyingfeatures of the present invention; a I5 Fig. 10 is a section taken alongthe line 10 -10, Fig, 9; l I 7 9.

Fig. 11 is a section similar to Fig. 10 and illustrating the position ofparts at the completion of the congealingactio n; and

Fig. 12 is an endelevation of the tray unit shown in Fig. 9.

The present invention discloses Certain' features of my prior patents,Nos. 1,824,308 and 1,824,309, issued September 22, 1931,-and'respectively entitled Molds for frozen substances and Mold forfreezing liquid. In addition to'utilizing the expansive action of mattercongealing" in the mold to elevate one cooperative member'and thus breakits bond with adjoining surfaces of the congealed matter, the presentdesign'j also provides a mechanical action for breaking the bond betweenthe other said member and congealedmatterinthemold. K

Referring first to the form of'the invention illustrated in"Figs. 1through 4, the unit coinprises a tray member'T and a grid member Gadapted to fit in "the tray. The tray has upstanding side walls 20 andend walls"2| witha bottom 22 connecting said walls to providef-a basinor container for liquids. A rim "23 extends around the container atthe'top of said walls and preferably this entire structure is madeintegrally as by stamping or by other suitable abncating methods.Suitable handles (not shown) may be provided to facilitate handlingofl'the tray. The grid member G comprises a lengthwise wall 25 and aseries of cross walls 26, at intervals along said lengthwise wall, allsaid walls preferably being wedge-shaped or of tapering section asshown. A supporting structure 21,is attached to the walls 2-5 and Z6,and, as here shown is in the form of a plate having an upstandingifiirn28. The plate has the two-fold functionf 'oi' carrying and supportingthe walls 25 and 2B, a'nd of enclosing the top of the container toprevent spilling after it has been filled and is being moved to thefreezing. chamber of a. refrigerator or the like (not shown) For thisreason,,I prefer to use an imperforate plate as the supportingstructure, although adequate results can be obtained with arimtypemember which would engagethe walls 20 and 2| of the tray andextendinwardlyforv about one inch or so. I have found that as the liquidcongeals, the lower sides and bottom congeal first and bond to the panor tray, and the final stage of the congealing action is for the liquidto solidify in the central portion of the top of the enclosed body.Consequently, the greater part of the expansion occurs in this area andby having an overhanging surface against which this expansive force isdirected, it is possible to utilize the expansion as a lifting means.

By proper arrangement of the rim 28 on plate 21 a close contact isobtained with the upstanding walls of the tray at or near rim extension23 and thus provides a substantially fluid-tight joint which preventsspilling when the pan is moved while filled with liquid. In thesubsequent description, other means of sealing the enclosure will beshown, and it is obvious that, if desired, the walls may be recessed oroffset to provide a flat seat against which the flat surfaces of plate21 would hear.

In order to provide the necessary release action,

provide suitable leverage .mechanism which may consist of a single unitor preferably, as illustrated, two units located at opposite ends ofplate 21. Each unit will consist of a pivot structure 29 supported fromthe plate on which a lever 39 is mounted in a position to bear againstrim :23 of the tray and elevate the .grid structure.

The dotted lines in Fig. 3 illustrate the uppermost .lever position andshow the extent to which the plate 21 and associated walls are elevatedin this action.

In operation, the tray T is filled to the approximate level of rim 23and the grid G is then inserted in the tray with the rim 28 making closecontact with the walls of the tray at their top portions. The unit thenmaybe moved conven-iently to the refrigerator or other freezing chamberand inserted therein. As the liquid --cong-eals in the respective moldsformed by the -wall members, the resulting solid body assumes .the shapeshown in Fig. 3, and the expansion elevates the grid member as indicatedby the spacing of the bottom of the grid from tray bottom 22 in Fig. 3.This elevating action is due to the fact that the protruding portion atthe top of the ice block contacts the overhanging surface of plate 21and elevates same in the expansive movement. Due to the wedge shape ofthe grid walls, this movement causes the portion of a wall at a givenelevation to occupy a space of substantially greater dimension than theadjoining portion of the wall and thus the bond between the ice blockand the wall is broken. However, if the unit remains in the freezingchamber for a substantial interval after congealing, as frequentlyoccurs, a frost bond will form in the space between the blocks and thegrid walls. While this bond is not very tenacious, it is sufficientlyfirm .to make a mechanical action advisable in effecting the desiredrelease.

When it is desired to obtain ice blocks, the unit is removed from thefreezing compartment usually by drawing on a suitable handle .on theadjoining surfaces of the tray.

bottom of the tray. A preferred method of releasing the ice blocks fromthe tray involves an initial withdrawal of the grid in the manneraforesaid, after which the operator will grasp each end of the tray andapply a twisting flexure thereto which serves to break the bond betweenthe ice blocks and the associated tray surfaces.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 employs a similaraction in effecting the release of the grid structure from the iceblocks, but employs a different mechanical action for obtaining therelease of the ice blocks from the tray surfaces. The tray T in thisform comprises upstanding side walls 35, a bottom 39, an upright butslightly sloping rear end wall 3'5, and a sharply sloping front end wall33. The end andside walls preferably terminate in o. laterally extendingrim portion 39 and preferably a lug 46 is supported from the rimadjoining end wall 31 in overhanging relation to the grid G when it isinserted in the tray. In this form, I also prefer to have a lengthwisewall M and cross walls 42 of the grid portion wedge-shaped, and, inaddition, I provide an additional cross wall 13 at the end of the gridwhich is fitted against end wall 3'! of the tray, and preferably thiswall is arranged to lie fiat against the surface of wall 37. Thesupporting member 44 may be of any suitable design, but preferably is acover plate having an upstanding rim 45 of the type hereinbeioredescribed. At the end of the grid adjoining wall 38, a supporting member56 is fixed on plate 44 as by welding, riveting or the like, and carriesa pivot 4'! on which a lever 48 is mounted in a position to engage theportion of rim 39 supported by wall 38.

In operation, the tray T is filled substantially to the level of rim 39after which the grid G is inserted into the tray by slipping the portionof rim 45 overhanging Wall 43 under member 40 and allowing the remainderof the grid structure to slide into position until wall 43 lies flatagainst wall 31. The unit is then inserted in a freezing chamber andupon congealing the grid member will be elevated in the mannerhereinbcfore described with reference to the structure of Fig. 1, thusseparating the walls 4| and 42 from the ice blocks usually held by afrost bond.

The unit is removed from the chamber for use and placed on a supportingsurface, whereupon lever 48 is rotated while rim 39 of the tray is heldagainst tilting, and the initial movement of the lever serves to impartan elevating component to the grid structure to the approximate positionof the top dotted line in Fig. 6, which is effective in breaking thefrost bond. Thereafter, continued rotation of the lever serves to bringits depending end in engagement with the rim 39 of tray '1" causing theentire grid structure to be drawn lengthwise of the tray andthusefiectively break the bond between the ice blocks and the Ifdesired, the rim 39 adjoining wall 38 may be suitably reinforced toprevent deformation through repeated contact with the lever in use.

Another form of the invention has been illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8which involves only a modification of the arrangement of the mechanicalaction in a unit of the type shown in Figs. 1 through 4. The tray T inthis form has side walls 50, end walls 5|, and connecting bottom portion52 of the same type as shown in Fig. 1. In addition. a lever 53 ismounted on a pin 55 supported in a socket member 54 attached to or fixedon the tray. The grid (2" has an arrangement of wall members of the typeshown in Fig.

1, and its cover member 55 is provided with' the usual upstanding rim 51to insure fluid-tight contact with adjoining surfaces of the tray.

A spring 58 is supported on cover 56 in a position to substantiallyoverhang lever 53 in its down position and to permit passage by thelever in its rotation. After an initial delaying action the springflexes to a position in which the lever can clear the spring and assumean upright position. However, the spring is sufiiciently resistant tothis movement to impart a following action to the grid in the first partof the movement which is of sufficient duration to efiectively break thefrost bond. When the lever is returned to its down position it engagesthe rolled-over portion of the spring and thus forces the spring to movesidewise a distance sufiicient to permit the lever to clear and reachthe down position. After the frost bond has been broken as aforesaid,the grid may be removed by lifting on the spring, and after removal ofthe grid the lever may be utilized as a handle to flex the tray andobtain the desired release of the ice bond, While only one lever hasbeen shown, preferably two will be provided at the opposite ends of thetray and this arrangement provides a simplified means for flexing thetray.

The type of unit illustrated in Figs. 9 through 12 employs an automaticaction for releasing the grid from the ice blocks formed in the tray. Inthis form, the tray T has a bottom 80 connecting side walls 6! and endwalls 62, each of which has an enlargement or reinforcement 53, theupper surface of which is grooved to provide a sloping seat 64. Again inthis form, it is preferable to have the side walls BI and end walls 62terminate at their upper ends in a rim portion 65.

The cooperative grid member G has a lengthwise wall 66 and cross walls61, also preferably wedge shaped and attached to or formed integrallywith a supporting member 68, preferably in the form of a cover plate. Aresilient gasket, preferably rubber, encircles the outer edges of coverplate 68 and is conveniently held in place thereon by a rim portionwhich may be formed integrally with plate 68 or attached thereto in anysuitable manner as by welding'or riveting. The gasket 69 is arranged tooverhang the rim 65 of tray T and thus provides a fluid-tight seal whenthe grid is inserted in the tray. A U-shaped supporting member II isattached to plate 68 at each of its ends and has a rod 12 extendingthrough suitable openings in its upstanding portions for limitedlengthwise movement. A spring 73 is mounted on the rod within theU-shaped support and normally opposes said lengthwise movement by reasonof its being under compression. The rod 12 terminates beyond the rim oftray '1 in a depending portion 14 suitably notched as shown at 15, tolatch against the extending surface of reinforcement 53 and thus holdsgasket 69 in sealin engagement with rim 65.

When liquid in the tray congeals and assumes the solidified form shownin Fig. 11, the expan sive action causes the depending portion M to bedrawn upwardly until the latching engagement is broken, whereupon spring13 draws the extended rod lengthwise of member H causing the dependingportion 14 to bear against the sloping seat 64 and thus substantiallyraise the walls 66 and 6'! breaking the bond with the ice blocks. Whenit is desired to use the tray, the grid may be removed by grasping thedepending portions of rods 12 which serve as handles, and thus removethe entire grid member from the tray. A flexing of the tray in themanner hereinbefore described will efiect a release of the ice from thetray and make the separated blocks readily available to the user.

It will be noted that in the various forms of the invention hereinbeforedescribed I prefer to employ an arrangement in which the grid issupported from a top closure member in a depending position within thetray, and due to the engagement of the cover member with the adjoiningsurfaces of the tray, the actual support of the grid is from the top ofthe tray, although there may be some contact between the tray bottom andthe lower edges of the grid walls. This arrangement permits the gridassembly to be moved upwardly as a unit by the expansive action of thesolidification without loosening the bond between the blocks and thetray. Thereafter the release of the ice from the tray is a simple mattereither by flexing the tray in the manner described or by imparting amechanical movement of sufiicient magnitude to break the bond.

While certain of the features have been disclosed with a particularembodiment, as for example, the liquid sealing feature and various leveractions, it will be apparent that such features are interchangeable andmay be utilized in other structural embodiments than the one withreference to which they are illustrated in the drawings. Other changesin details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofparts may be availed of within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a container memberhaving upstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and agrid portion, said grid portion having walls shorter than saidupstanding walls, and said supporting portion bein constructed andarranged to seat against upper surfaces of said upstanding walls tosuspend the grid portion within said container, and said grid memberbeing constructed and arranged to be elevated by the expansive action ofmatter congealing in the container, whereby said grid portion may bemoved substantially out of contact with said matter when it assumes asolid state, substantially filling the container, and means on one ofsaid members arranged to engage the other of said members afterelevation of the grid member so as to separate the said members.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a container memberhaving upstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and agrid portion, said grid portion having walls shorter than saidupstanding walls, and said supporting portion being constructed andarranged to seat against upper surfaces of said upstanding walls tosuspend the grid portion within said container, and said supportingportion being constructed and arranged to be elevated by the expansiveaction of matter congealing in the container, whereby said grid portionmay be moved substantially out of contact with said matter when itassumes a solid state, substantially filling the container, and means onone of said members arranged to engage the other of said members afterelevation of the grid member so as to separate the said members.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a container memberhaving upstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and agrid portion, said grid portion having walls shorter than saidupstanding walls, and said supporting portion being constructed andarranged to seat against upper surfaces of said upstanding walls tosuspend the grid portion within said container, and said grid portionbeing constructed and arranged to be elevated by the expansive action ofmatter congealing in the container, whereby said grid portion may bemoved substantially out of contact with said matter when it assumes asolid state, substantially filling the container, and means on one ofsaid members arranged to engage the other of said members afterelevation of the grid member so as to separate the said members.

i. A device of the character described, comprising a container memberhaving upstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and agrid portion, said grid portion having walls shorter than saidupstanding walls, and said supporting portion being constructed andarranged to enclose the top of the container when said container isfilled with liquid and to seat against upper surfaces of said upstandingwalls to suspend the grid portion within said container, and said gridmember being constructed and arranged to be elevated by the expansiveaction of matter congealing in the container, whereby said grid portionmay be moved substantially out of contact with said matter when itassumes a solid state, substantially filling the container, and means onone of said members arranged to' engage the other of said members afterelevation of the grid member so as to separate the said members.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a container memberhaving upstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and agrid portion, said grid portion having walls, shorter than saidupstanding walls, and said supporting portion being constructed andarranged to fit in fluid-tight engagement against upper surfaces of saidupstanding walls to suspend the grid portion within said container, andsaid grid member being constructed and arranged to be elevated by theexpansive action of matter congealing in the container, whereby saidgrid portion may be moved substantially out of contact with said matterwhen it assumes a solid state, substantially filling the container, andmeans on one of said members arranged to engage the other of saidmembers after elevation of the grid member so as to separate the saidmembers.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a container havingupstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and a gridportion, said grid portion having walls shorter than said upstandingwalls, and said supporting portion being constructed and arranged toseat against upper surfaces of said upstanding walls to suspend the gridportion within said container, and said grid member being constructedand arranged to be elevated by the expansive action of matter oongealingin the container, whereby said grid portion may be moved substantiallyout of contact with said matter when it assumes a solid statesubstantially filling the container, and means carried on the gridmember in a position to contact the container and facilitate separationof said member from frozen matter in the tray.

7. A device of the character described, com- 82 prising acontainer-having upstanding walls, a grid member having a supportingportion and a grid portion, said grid portion having walls shorter thansaid upstanding walls, and said supporting portion being constructed andarranged to seat against upper surfaces of said upstanding Walls tosuspend thegrid portion within said container, and said grid memberbeing constructed and arranged to be elevated by the expansive action ofmatter congealing in the container, whereby said grid portion may bemoved substantially out of contact with said matter when it assumes asolid state substantially filling the container, and means'comprising atleast one lever carried on the grid member in a position to contact'thecontainer and facilitate separation of said member from frozen matter inthe tray.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a container memberhaving upstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and agrid portion, said grid portion having walls shorter than saidupstanding walls, and said supporting portion being constructed andarranged to seat against upper surfaces 0t said upstanding walls tosuspend the grid portion within said container, and said grid memberincluding a wedge-shaped lengthwise wall and wedge-shaped cross walls atintervals along the lengthwise wall attached to said supporting portionadapted to be elevated therewith by the expansive action of mattercongealing in the container, and means on one said member arranged toengage the other said member after elevation of the grid member so as toseparate the said members.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a container memberhaving upstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and agrid portion, said grid portion having walls shorter than saidupstanding walls, and liquid sealing means disposed between the top ofthe grid member and adjoining surfaces of the container, said supportingmember being constructed and arranged for engagement with r supportingsurfaces of the container for suspending the grid portion within thecontainer, and said grid member being constructed and arranged to beelevated by the expansive action of matter 'congealing in the container,whereby said grid portion is moved substantially out of contact withsaid matter when it assumes a solid state substantially filling thecontainer, and means on one said member arranged to engage the othersaid member after elevation of the grid member so as to separate thesaid members. 10. A device of the character described, comprising acontainer having upstanding walls, a grid member having a supportingportion and a grid portion, said grid portion having walls shorter thansaid upstanding walls, and liquidsealing means disposed between the topof the grid portion and adjoining surfaces of the container, saidsupporting portion being constructed and arranged for engagement withsupporting surfaces on said upstanding walls for suspending the gridportion within thecontainer, and means on said grid member cooperatingwith the container in one position to maintain said liquid seal andconstructed and arranged to be moved by the expansive force ofsufiicient matter congealing in the container to move said grid memherto a second position in which the grid is out of contact with thesolidified matter in the container.

l1.-A device of the character described, comprising a container havingupstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and a gridportion, said grid portion having Walls shorter than said upstandingwalls, and said supporting portion being constructed and arranged to fitin liquid-covering engagement with surfaces of the container when saidcontainer is filled with liquid and to suspend the grid portion withinthe container, and means on said grid member cooperating with thecontainer in one position to maintain the cover on said liquid andconstructed and arranged to be moved by the expansive force ofsufficient matter congealing in the container to move said grid memberto a second position in which the grid is out of contact with solidifiedmatter in the container.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a container havingupstanding walls, a grid member having a supporting portion and a gridportion, said supporting member being constructed and. arranged to fitin liquid-covering engagement with surfaces of the container when saidcontainer is filled with liquid and to suspend the grid portion withinthe container, and a spring-urged latch element on said grid membercooperating with the container in one position to maintain said cover onthe liquid and constructed and arranged to be disengaged by an expansiveforce directed against said grid memher when sufiicient matter congealsin the container moving said grid member to a second position in whichthe grid is out of contact with solidified matter in the container.

13. A device of the character described, comprising a tray member, agrid member positioned in the tray member and dividing its interior intoa plurality of freezing cells, said grid member being disposed relativeto matter congealing in said cells in a position to be elevated by theexpansion accompanying said congealing action, and means on one of saidmembers arranged to act on the other of said members for effecting afurther separation of said members after the grid is in said elevatedposition.

14. A device of the character described, comprising a tray member, agrid member positioned in the tray member and dividing its interior intoa plurality of freezing cells, said grid member being disposed relativeto matter congealing in said cells in a position to be elevated by theexpansion accompanying said congealing action, and means on one of saidmembers arranged to act on the other of said members for effecting amovement of the grid member in said elevated position to break the bondbetween the congealed matter and said tray member.

15. A device of the character described, comprising a tray member, agrid member positioned in the tray member and dividing its interior intoa plurality of freezing cells, said grid member being disposed relativeto matter congealing in said cells in a position to be elevated by theexpansion accompanying said congealing action, and means on one of saidmembers arranged to act on the other of said members for effecting amovement lengthwise of the grid member in said elevated position tobreak the bond between the congealed matter and said tray member.

16. A device of the character described, comprising a container havingupstanding walls, a

grid member having a plate portion and a grid portion, said plateportion being constructed and arranged to seat against upper surfaces ofsaid upstanding walls with the grid portion depending in the container,said grid member including a wedge-shaped, lengthwise wall and aplurality of wedge-shaped cross Walls at intervais along the lengthwisewall attached to said plate portion and adapted to be elevated therewithby the expansive action of matter congealing in the container, and meansincluding at least one lever mounted at an end of said plate portion ina position to bear against the container while in said elevated positionto break the bond between the grid member and frozen matter in thecontainer.

1'7. As a new article of manufacture for use in. containers, a gridmember comprising a lengthwise wall and a plurality of cross wallsdisposed at intervals along said lengthwise wall, all said walls beingWedge-shaped, a plate member interconnecting said wall members andcovering the spaces between said members to form an integral structureadapted to fit in a freezing container, and a lever carried on saidplate member in a position to exert leverage against the container whenthe grid member is fitted therein.

18. As a new article of manufacture for use in containers, a grid membercomprising a lengthwise Wall and a plurality of cross Walls disposed atintervals along said lengthwise wall, all said walls being wedge-shaped,a plate member interconnecting said wall members and covering the spacesbetween said members to form an integral structure adapted to fit in afreezing container, and at least one lever mounted for pivotal movementon said plate member and adapted to engage a surface of the freezingcontainer to elevate the grid member relative thereto.

19. As a new article of manufacture for use in containers, a grid membercomprising a lengthwise wall and a plurality of cross walls disposed atintervals along said lengthwise wall, all said walls being wedge-shaped,a plate member interconnecting said wall members and covering the spacesbetween said members to form an integral structure adapted to fit in a,freezing container, and a lever mounted for pivotal movement on saidplate member having a portion adapted to bear against a surface of thecontainer to impart an elevating movement to the grid member followed bya secondary movement of the grid member in a direction transverse to thepivotal axis of the lever.

RICHARD M. STORER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,824,308 Storer Sept. 22, 19311,824,309 Storer Sept. 22, 1931 1,873,508 Tanger Aug. 23, 1932 2,011,289Klyce Aug. 13, 1935 2,069,195 Chilton Feb. 2, 1937 2,190,610 Reeves Feb.13, 1940

